GCSEs should not be axed in Wales, finds major education review

It comes amid increasing divergence in Welsh policy compared to England, in the wake of a decision by Education Minister Leighton Andrews to regrade English GCSEs taken by Welsh students, provoking a row with his UK counterpart Michael Gove and the English regulator Ofqual.

A major review into education published this morning has recommended that GCSEs should not be axed in Wales.

A report has recommended the qualifications stays as part of a reformed exam system that is built around a beefed up Welsh Baccalaureate system.

The review into qualifications has also recommended that a Scottish-style single body responsible to run Welsh examinations is created, while the Welsh Baccalaureate should be "built on and strengthened" as a part of an "overarching framework" of qualifications.

Former college head Huw Evans, which lead the review board, said the package of 42 recommendations were "very much driven by the need to establish an education and qualifications system everybody can be proud of in Wales".

The review also recommends that the Welsh Bacc becomes the basis for measuring the performance of providers in Wales.

Under the plans, pupils would be able to gain a "national" Welsh Bacc if they achieve at least five GCSEs at grades A-C, and the parts of the Bacc.

A-Level students would be able to complete an "advanced" Bacc.

When it is unveiled this morning by its lead author Huw Evans, a former head of Coleg Llandrillo, and Deputy Minister for Skills Jeff Cuthbert, the report could signal a shift in the future direction of Welsh education.

It comes amid increasing divergence in Welsh policy compared to England, in the wake of a decision by Education Minister Leighton Andrews to regrade English GCSEs taken by Welsh students, provoking a row with his UK counterpart Michael Gove and the English regulator Ofqual.

Mr Evans said that divergence from the rest of the UK was "impossible to avoid".

Mr Gove has also committed England to phasing out GCSEs in favour of the English Baccalaureate.

Today’s report recognises the increasing recognition among education leaders of the Welsh Bacc, with the report recommending increased measures to build upon it alongside GCSEs and A-Levels.

The decision to recommend retaining GCSEs - which are to be ditched by Mr Gove amid claims they are too easy and are subject to grade inflation - came despite hints from Mr Andrews that they may be replaced following the summer regrading row.

Other recommendations from the report include measures to strengthen vocational qualifications, a continuation of literacy and numeracy testing beyond the age of 16 if needed and a five-year communications strategy to raise awareness of the new qualifications structure.

But one of its most notable proposals is to create a single body for examinations in Wales.

Qualifications Wales would be responsible for regulating, awarding and accrediting exams in Wales, meaning that the Education Minister’s current role of being the chief regulator would be ceded.

Its structure would be similar to that of the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA), with the body responsible for setting and then regulating exams.

The creation of Qualifications Wales would mean the absorption of the current Welsh exam board, the WJEC, combined with the regulatory powers currently held by the Minister.

Deputy Minister for Skills Jeff Cuthbert received the final report of the review, which centres around qualifications for 14 to 19-year-olds, at Neath Port Talbot College this morning.

The review had been prompted by concerns over the complexity of the system and how it is understood.

The board, chaired by Mr Evans, was made up of employers, representatives from schools, further education, work-based learning and higher education, as well as Welsh Government officials.

Mr Cuthbert said: "Our young people deserve to have confidence in their qualification system.

"The purpose of this review was to ensure that the qualifications available to learners in Wales are relevant, valued and understood, and that those qualifications are what employers and universities want.

"An important part of this is making sure that qualifications available in Wales are recognised and valued not only in Wales, but also across the border and worldwide.

"I would like to thank Huw and the board for their excellent work on the review and for producing an extremely thorough, well considered and valuable report.

"I am excited by the opportunities outlined in the report. I look forward to considering the recommendations in detail and I intend to respond formally by the end of January 2013."

The Conservative Shadow Education Minister, Angela Burns, said: "It is vital that Wales has internationally-recognised qualifications with accepted standards, which will not hold back young people should their careers take them to another part of the UK or further afield.

"Welsh Labour Ministers must use this report to deliver Welsh qualifications, which focus on improving competence in literacy, numeracy and communication and encourage the development of key life skills.

"After a series of damning league tables and statistics laying bare failings in the Welsh education system, we need robust qualifications to restore confidence and drive up standards to meet the best in international comparisons."

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